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How To Stop Smoking

In 1979, the US public health service called smoking "the largest single preventable cause of illness and premature death in the United States." Tobacco is the only legal product in the US that, when used correctly, kills one out of every four of those who use it. Tobacco is responsible for the death of over 450,000 Americans per year—more than all who die from AIDS, illicit drugs, fires, car crashes, and homicides combined.

How To Stop Smoking

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Gospel Radio 7 Suriname http://radio7.interamerica.orgHow To Stop SmokingAuthor: Radiant Living Magazine In 1979, the US public health service called smoking "the largest single preventable cause of illness and premature death in the United States." Tobacco is the only legal product in the US that, when used correctly, kills one out of every four of those who use it. Tobacco is responsible for the death of over 450,000 Americans per year—more than all who die from AIDS, illicit drugs, fires, car crashes, and homicides combined.Tobacco leads to a variety of painful and terminal illnesses. The greatest number ofsmoking-related deaths are from heart attack, stroke, and cancer. Two of the morefrightening diseases associated with smoking are emphysema and Buergers disease.Even if tobacco doesnt kill you outright, some of the non-lethal effects are just asbad. It weakens the bones and is a risk factor for back pain; it causes impotence andpremature menopause; it accelerates hair graying, skin wrinkling, loss of vision, anddecreased physical capacity. Cancer treatment can be painful and disfiguring; a heartattack or stroke can leave you disabled.You have a great deal to gain by kicking the habit: longer life, more energy, fewermedical expenses—and the air is fresher, breathing is easier, food is more flavorfuland money goes farther. You smell better, and so do the flowers.Get some advice on quitting:It is not an easy task to quit smoking. The 1988 Surgeon Generals report revealedthat nicotine is six to eight times more addictive than alcohol. Yet since 1964, 44million Americans have stopped smoking. Most have kicked the habit on their own;however, the chances of success are up to five times higher for those who attend aseminar such as "Breathe Free Plan to Stop Smoking," one of the most successfulquit-smoking programs ever presented, with over 20 million graduates worldwide.An addiction to tobacco is both psychological and physical. Some of the classicwithdrawal symptoms are nicotine craving, rapid mood swings, tremors, intestinalproblems, headaches, increased smokers cough (as the lungs clean themselves), sleepdisturbances, hunger, anxiety, irritability, restlessness, difficulty concentrating,frustration or anger, dizziness, and nausea. The average person experiences about fiveof these symptoms during a complete break from cigarettes. The worst of thewithdrawal symptoms are usually over within the first 24-72 hours, and all physicalsymptoms should be completely gone at the end of four weeks.

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Gospel Radio 7 Suriname http://radio7.interamerica.orgHere are 12 things you can do to help take the misery out of quitting:1. Choose to quit. The first and most important step is to make a personal choice tostop smoking. Write down your reasons for quitting, keep them with you, and reviewthem frequently. Set a date—the sooner the better—and kick the habit.2. Eliminate all cigarettes. Dont plan to fail. Cigarettes close at hand intensify thecravings. Get rid of all temptation.3. Plan strategies to resist cravings. A craving lasts only two to three minutes. Ifyou can distract yourself for that long, the battle is yours. Get a drink of water andtake several slow deep breaths. Tell someone your reasons for quitting. Find anactivity not related to smoking that can be done automatically when necessary.4. Exercise daily. Exercise naturally relieves anxiety and tension; it is a powerfulmood elevator. When faced with cravings, exercise is an excellent option. Plan somesort of moderate physical activity, such as a brisk walk, into every day. You will havefewer and less intense cravings.5. Get more sleep. For the first five days after quitting, your body will require moresleep. Arrange your schedule so that you have the option of an extra two hours in bedif you need it. This will go a long way toward preventing mood swings andtendencies to irritability, frustration, and anger.6. Drink 8-12 glasses of water daily. Abundant quantities of water will wash thepoisons from your system and prevent dehydration, which seems to make a numberof withdrawal symptoms worse. Other beverages are not as effective at keeping youhydrated. Caffeinated drinks are diuretics and promote water loss. Eating just fruitand drinking only fruit juice or water for the first twenty-four hours may help flushyour system of toxins.7. Shower or bathe more frequently. Water has a tremendous equalizing effect onthe nervous system and it keeps your pores clean and open, which helps eliminatetoxins through the skin. Also, ridiculous as it may sound, the shower is actually a saferetreat when a nicotine craving hits. Showering and smoking just dont go together formost people.8. Avoid substances such as caffeine and alcohol that make it more difficult toquit. Caffeine increases the intensity of some withdrawal symptoms such as nicotine

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Gospel Radio 7 Suriname http://radio7.interamerica.orgcravings, anxiety, irritability, and difficulty sleeping. It also alters the brain chemistry,making it harder to develop new habits. It is often behaviorally linked with smoking.An unusual reaction occurs when nicotine and caffeine are given up at the same time;their withdrawal symptoms tend to cancel each other out, making it easier todiscontinue both. Those who stop smoking but continue to drink coffee have a higherrelapse rate than those who stop using both at the same time.Alcohol interferes with judgment. It will suppress the ability to stick with yourdecision to quit. Heavy meals, especially in the evening, tend to bring on the urge tosmoke. Spicy foods such as mustard, vinegar, ketchup, pickles, pepper, and evencinnamon can increase smoking urges as well as other withdrawal symptoms.9. Avoid smoking-associated situations. When, where, and with whom do youusually smoke? If you usually smoke sitting at the table after dinner, then get upimmediately and do something not associated with smoking. What about that easychair? Do you always have a cigarette in your hand when you sit there? Sitsomewhere else. Explain to your friends what you are doing and ask for their support.If they try to undermine your resolve or tempt you, they are not really your friends;avoid them until you have firmly broken the habit.10. Help someone else. Programs that employ a buddy system are invaluable. Theact of helping someone else quit provides a tremendous boost of motivation for youto keep going.11. Persevere. If, in a moment of weakness, you give in to your cravings, dont giveup. Determine to persevere and continue fighting until you win. Figure out what wentwrong, devise a plan so it wont happen again, renew your commitment, and obtainthe victory. Do not allow yourself to flounder in self-destructive condemnation.12. Ask for help. Many people find that their strongest resolutions and most sincerepromises are like ropes of sand. They realize that they are slaves to tobacco,incapable of freeing themselves. There is hope for people trying to quit smoking.Your loving Creator will give you strength if you ask Him. Spend some time withHim each day in self-surrender and give this battle to Him. Persevere and He will setyou free.